Fundamental error sinks Ducks

The Ducks' George Parros takes down Frazer McClaren during a fight in the first period of Saturday's game. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Dan Boyle of the Sharks holds off the Ducks' MacGregor Sharp near San Jose's goal in the first period of Saturday's game. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Benn Ferriero, 78, and Frazer McLaren of San Jose try to keep the puck away from the Ducks' Mike Brown in the first period of Saturday's game. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Benn Ferriero of San Jose and Bobby Ryan of the Ducks battle for the puck in the first period of Saturday's game. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Sharks' Dany Heatly, 15, celebrates scoring a goal with teammates Patrick Marleau, 12, and Joe Thornton during Saturday's game against the Ducks. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Ducks goalie Jonas HIller looks at the scoreboard after the Sharks scored in the second period of Saturday's game. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Mike Brown of the Ducks and the Sharks' Dan Boyle battle for the puck in the first period of Saturday's game. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Todd Marchant of the Ducks gets past Dan Boyle and goalie Evgeni Nabokov of the Sharks to take a shot on the goal in the third period, but comes up short during Saturday's game. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The San Jose Sharks celebrate a goal scored by Joe Thornton in the third period of Saturday's game against the Ducks. The goal proved to be the game winning point. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Sharks' Joe Thornton celebrates scoring what ended up being the game winning goal with teammate Dany Heatly during Saturday's game against the Ducks. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Bobby Ryan of the Ducks guards Jason Demers of the Sharks during Saturday's game. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The Ducks' George Parros takes down Frazer McClaren during a fight in the first period of Saturday's game. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ANAHEIM -- Big things and little things that the Ducks have not mastered one-quarter of the way into the season continue to hurt them in the worst possible way.

This time it was something as basic as failing to clear the puck out of their zone at the end of a successful penalty kill that haunted them Saturday night in a tight battle between two rivals at opposite ends of the Western Conference.

Joe Thornton's goal was the price for that mistake near the midpoint of the third period and it gave the San Jose Sharks a 3-2 victory over the Ducks in front of 15,066 at Honda Center.

The Ducks (7-11-3) had killed off Teemu Selanne's hooking penalty and the winger joined the play in the defensive zone. However, Dany Heatley got the puck on a turnover and fed Thornton on the left side for a shot that got by Jonas Hiller's stick on the far side.

"We didn't get the puck all the way down the ice," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "I think the puck actually deflected off our goaltender's stick and went into the top corner of the net. It looked from the video like it was going wide.

"We shot ourselves in the foot by not being able to clear that puck in that situation."

It was another moment that seemed the sap the spirit of the Ducks, who got power-play goals from defensemen James Wisniewski and Ryan Whitney.

"I was kind of ready for the shot," said Hiller, who made 33 saves. "He just passed it to the side and Thornton one-times it. I think he got a good shot off there. It slightly went off me and went post and in.

"I think it's those kinds of small mistakes that cost us the hockey game right now."

The Sharks (16-5-4) then put the clamps on any comeback attempt in extending their lead in the Pacific Division to eight points over the Kings. Meanwhile, the cellar-dwelling Ducks simply can't gain any traction.

Todd Marchant came within inches of giving the Ducks the lead when he pushed his backhand try just wide on a shorthanded attempt just 90 seconds before Thornton's winner.

"It just seems like that's how things are going against us," Whitney said. "We've got to find a way to switch it ourselves because we need to start getting points."

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